Export Licenses

An export license grants permission to
conduct a certain type of export transaction. It is issued by the
appropriate licensing agency after a careful review of the facts
surrounding the given export transaction. Most export transactions do
not require specific approval in the form of licenses from the U.S.
Government. In fact, a relatively small percentage of all U.S. export
transactions require licenses from the U.S. government. It is up to the
exporter to determine whether the product requires a license and to
research the end use of the product, in other words, to perform "due
diligence" regarding the transaction. Exporters should learn which
federal department or agency has jurisdiction over the item they are
planning to export in order to find out if a license is required.

Export Control Reform Initiative*

The Administration is engaged in a
fundamental reform of the U.S. export control system to enhance U.S.
national security and strengthen the United States' ability to counter
threats such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

* The Export Control Reform Initiative is not related to the National Export Initiative.

Department of State

Export of defense articles Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
at the U.S. Department of State. Generally, any person or company who
intends to export a defense article must obtain the approval of DDTC
prior to the export. In the case of defense export transactions (defense
articles such as munitions), any person or company who intends to
export such an article must first obtain approval from the U.S.
Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) prior
to the export.

Department of Agriculture

The Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS) at USDA guides exporters in exporting meat, poultry, and egg
products, including packaging, labeling and other special conditions.

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) provides exporters with an understanding of the transportation
options, cost factors, and technical considerations associated with
export transportation of high-valued and value-added agricultural
products.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS) at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) serves to facilitate
safe trade, monitor the movement of risk material, protect against the
introduction of pests, regulate the import and export of plants, and
help exporters meet the entry requirements of other countries.